W.Va. man indicted on arson charges

By J.R. Williams - jrwilliams@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- A West Virginia man who reportedly told authorities he set a house ablaze "just to watch it burn" has been indicted on arson charges by a Frederick County Circuit Court grand jury.

Glenn William Silversmith, 39, of 614 Waterford Drive, Berkeley Springs, was indicted on one count each of breaking and entering and arson.

According to authorities, Silversmith and his stepson, Douglas Merriom Bailey, 19, of 12309 Bristow Road, Bristow, were seen walking from a convenience store on U.S. 522 on May 4 before coming to a single-story home at 421 N. Timber Ridge Road.

The two broke into the home before Silversmith allegedly set the home on fire, authorities have said.

A restitution statement filed in the court lists $85,000 in damages to the homeowner, William Puffinberger, who expressed sadness over the incident in a recent letter to the court.

"My dad died in 1981, my mom died 7 months later in 1982," the letter reads. "I kept this home [out of] respect to my parents for giving 11 children a life, a good one.

"I held on to it for 28 years no matter what. I guess this was as long as we were supposed to have [our] past."

Silversmith has a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 18. Bailey was indicted by the grand jury on one count of breaking and entering.

Also indicted Aug. 2 by a Frederick County Circuit Court grand jury:

• David Dwayne Kulha, 49, of 793 McDonald Road, Winchester, on one count each of the assault and battery of a law-enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

• Leigh Anne Burns, 39, of 373 1/2 Grave Ave., Winchester, on one count each of malicious wounding and robbery.

• Randy Allen Altman, 41, of 128 Waterloo Court, Winchester, on one count of DUI, a third or subsequent offense.

• Thomas Sylvester Bennett Jr., 50, of 492 Woodchuck Lane, Winchester, on one count of heroin possession.

• John Cletis Dolly, 32, of 728 S. Kent St., Winchester, on two counts of driving after having been declared a habitual offender, a second or subsequent offense.

• William Neil Holborn Jr., 27, of 205 Stickley Drive, Stephens City, on one count each of DUI and hit-and-run.

• Donald Charles Lowe, 46, whose address was listed as the Winchester Salvation Army, on one count of shoplifting, a third or subsequent offense.

• Wilmer Geovani Rivera, 29, whose address is unknown, on one count of aggravated malicious wounding.

• Apolo Felix Herrera, alias Elias Rivera, of 219 N. Cameron St., Winchester, on one count of destruction of property and two counts of attempted breaking and entering.

• Charles Lynwood Robinson, 24, of 433 Lilys Way, Winchester, on one count of heroin distribution.

• Larissa Jocylin Achter, 23, of 71 N. Third St., Martinsburg, W.Va., on one count of heroin possession.

• Victor Jeffrey Crumpler, 40, of 200 Beechwood Ave., No. 28, Colonial Heights, on one count of driving after having been declared a habitual offender, a second or subsequent offense.

• Jerry Wayne Masters Jr., 44, of 105 Cherokee Trail, Winchester, on one count of grand larceny.

• William Albert Nelson, 46, of 863 Jefferson Ave., Charleston W.Va., on one count of shoplifting.

• Brenda Marie Beazer, 40, of 550 N. Braddock St., Winchester, on one count of embezzlement.

• Betty Jo Bradfield, 42, of 114 Arken Lane, Clear Brook, on one count each of attempted malicious wounding and assault and battery.

• Jennifer Ann Bryan, 38, of 829 Currency Drive, Bunker Hill, W.Va., on 11 counts of embezzlement.

• Zachary Robert Burge, 19, of 107 W. Main St., Boyce, on two counts of carnal knowledge.

• Chelsi Lynne Dodge, 22, of 433 Lilys Way, Winchester, on one count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin and heroin distribution.